Personal portraits and actor's headshots can be very similar in some aspects and vary quite a lot in others! A modeling portfolio varies to an even greater extent.

An ACTOR'S HEADSHOT however, should possess a number of essential characteristics.

While there are several important technical elements that go into creating a great headshot, there are also a few very important personal questions that YOU need to consider:

         1) Does your headshot look like you when you walk into an audition or is it a departure from your current look?
         2) Does it market what you have to sell in terms of your character range, age range and TYPE?
         3) Does your expression have a natural or spontaneous and genuine look?
         4) Does it grab the attention of and connect with the casting director when he or she is deciding who to call in?
         5) Did you get high quality, professional 8x10 reproductions or are you using a cheap copies of the original on regular size paper?
         6) Does your current headshot give you a measure of confidence when walking into an audition?

These details can make a big difference. If you can't answer these questions with any level of certainty about your own headshot, you may not be landing as many auditions as you would like to and may very well need a new headshot! Casting directors look at hundreds of headshots on a regular basis and only spend an average of five seconds looking at each one; you should have a headshot that makes them stop to take a closer look at you for the right reasons! Unfortunately, many actors often hang on to a headshot for all the wrong reasons.

If you're getting called in for auditions and you no longer look like your headshot because you are older, or you have a completely different hair style, lost weight, gained weight or any other reason, a casting director may pass on you. They may have had you in mind for a specific character based on the way you look in the headshot your agent submitted! Perhaps your hair was long in your headshot and now it's cut short! It's like ordering something by mail and when you open the box, it doesn't look like what you ordered! You're disappointed and ready to send it back.

You may be a very talented actor but casting can't always take the time to "rethink" what other role you are best suited for. When you are chosen from a huge stack of headshots, the casting director, for the most part, expects to see the same person at the audition...that is, the person best suited to play the character they had in mind for you!

You may be in love with your old headshot for some reason but if it doesn't look like you anymore, you are defeating the whole purpose of a headshot. Don't misunderstand, I think you should love your headshot; BUT, for all the right reasons.

Your headshot should look like you do, the current you, the real you. Most importantly, it should capture your overall appearance in a marketable form that features your character range, age range and type! A headshot session is NOT, I repeat, NOT the time to act out character roles or dress up in costumes. Casting will decide on who you are best to play based on your natural features; so be yourself.

Certainly, you want to look your best for your session.....of course! You just don't want to go over the top with ultra-glamorous hair styles and so forth unless you plan to do that for every audition you go to. Your headshot should represent the real you as much as possible, accenting your best features at the same time. Getting called in is half the battle; what you do at the audition is the other half. Starting out the process with a great headshot gives you an important edge!

Remember, you will be competing with other actors who take their profession and the quality of their headshot very seriously......and others who do not. Which category would you rather be in?

HERE ARE SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ACTOR'S HEADSHOTS

How many looks do I need, one, two, three, four?

Among other important functions, a good headshot should clearly establish your character type or identity. With that in mind, how many logos do you think Coke, Ford, Volkswagen or ATT use to establish their identity? The answer is one; they're easy to visualize and each has changed very little over the years. In reality, one really solid, up to date headshot is all you need to establish your identity. However, actors are not logos. Because many actors will audition for dramatic and commercial roles, the general guideline would be a max of two. Most actors feel having two and using the "audition appropriate" headshot will improve their odds of getting the role. One headshot that is warm and friendly with a pleasant smile for commercial work and perhaps another, more intense or serious headshot for dramatic work. If having reproductions of two different headshots works for your budget, go for it. If not, one is all you need.

How should my headshot be cropped? Just my head? My head and shoulders? Down to my bust line? Can it be a half-length?

While the industry standard for a headshot is generally head and shoulders, the actor or performer may feel what they have to offer in terms of upper body should be included to better market themselves according to type. For example, it would be an injustice to provide an actor with a headshot of head and shoulders only if they have extremely muscular arms with tattoos. The muscles and tattoos may be considered a powerful selling point in terms of character type as well as body type and consequently land the actor more auditions in that range. Male or female, ultimately, the choice is yours. If you go with something below the bust line however, be it physical type or "posturing", there should be a good reason for it.

Should my headshot be done in a studio or outdoors?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question and is a matter of client preference. In most cases, a properly lit, head and shoulders headshot that looks like you do on most days of the week and possesses the other elements we discussed will do the job it is expected to do; this can be in studio or outdoors. When shooting outdoors, it is important however, that the background is not a major distraction. This is why when shooting an actor's headshot on location, our preference is to shoot with a very shallow depth of field...meaning, the background is extremely blurred with only your face in focus. A headshot is after all, about your face and not the background. This is why a seamless, neutral gray or off-white background is often used in studio because ALL of the attention is then on your face and only your face. Headshots with a wall full of easy to read graffiti in the background, train yards, junk yards, trees, buildings and so forth may look cool and work well for a modeling portfolio but again, a headshot is not about the background, it's about your facial features. HOWEVER, in some cases, an actor's character features may actually be complimented by a specific background and natural daylight. This of course can vary quite a bit from actor to actor. Tell us about your features or send us a recent pic of yourself and we can help you decide. In any case, if you are of a certain character type and your headshot is a good one, the casting person will be judging your character type by your face more than the background no matter what the background may be. Nevertheless, it remains a matter of client preference. We will do your session wherever you think would work best for you.

What if I don't have an agent?

If you do not have an agent, it will be difficult, if not impossible to get auditions for yourself beyond the role of "extra". You need an agent. In most cases, you will not be able to sign with one however, until you have your headshot done. In fact, it is recommended that you don't even attempt to sign with an agent until you have your headshot and your reproductions done.

Your headshot will be the first thing the agency asks to see when you interview with them. Handing the agent a stunning headshot of yourself when you meet will make you look more professional. Having a dozen extra ones to give them if they are interested in signing you will only make you look more professional. Otherwise, you're wasting their time and yours. It's like going to apply for a job without a pen to fill out the application.

Most actors will get 100 professional headshot reproductions done....twenty or thirty for the agent and the rest for you to use every time you go to an audition. Casting usually requires talent to bring two headshots to each audition; not two different ones, but two of what you are using as your principal headshot. The ones you give to your agent and the ones you take to an audition should always have your current resume stapled to the back of each at all four corners. While we do not provide multiple reproductions, there are many reproduction places listed on the internet in both NY and LA that you can choose from. If you like, we can always recommend a few for you.

Why do I need to spend money on a hundred 8x10 reproductions anyway; can't I just print them on my own printer using regular copy paper? Getting professional reproductions of your headshot using the correct size of 8x10 is important; otherwise, you may be perceived as an amateur who doesn't know what they're doing. Why take that chance? As a professional actor, you should know what is required of you when you go to auditions and always present yourself as a professional. That means having professionally reproduced 8x10 headshots with your resume stapled to the back. You should always take TWO with you when going to auditions. Never have your resume printed on the back of your headshot. It should be updated regularly and printed on 8x10 paper and stapled to the back at all four corners.

If you expect to be considered for a role in a multi-million dollar film project, you should start by having your headshot meet industry standards, know your way around the set and certainly be able to deliver your lines in a consistent manner for every take they do; that includes reversal shots when the camera isn't even on you. If you start out by going to the audition with a headshot that doesn't meet the basic professional standards, how can you expect casting directors to think you know what you're doing?

Can I bring a few friends with me to the shoot?

This is definitely not recommended. Friends and family can be a major distraction to you; especially if they are looking over the photographer's shoulder and directing the shoot. HOWEVER, if you are under the age of 18, we REQUIRE you to have a parent or legal guardian present to sign paperwork and sit throughout the shoot. Otherwise, as a professional adult, you need to be focused on getting the best headshot possible. If you need reassurance that you will be working in a professional environment, we understand. Once you are comfortable with that, we ask that your friend wait for you somewhere else until you're done.